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CARB kicks off second year of grants for purchase of hybrid trucks, buses

After a successful first year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has decided to initiate round two of its Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). This time around, CARB will award grants totaling $19 million to fleet customers who purchase medium- and heavy-duty hybrid trucks and buses.
CARB will hand out incentive vouchers, valued at up to $40,000, on a first-come, first-served basis. Fleet customers can reserve the vouchers at participating dealerships and redeem them when placing a purchase order for eligible hybrid vehicles.

Last year, CARB's HVIP program dished out nearly $20 million to assist California's government and private fleets in purchasing more than 650 hybrid trucks and buses. Approximately 70 percent of the vouchers were handed out for fleet purchases of hybrid delivery vehicles.

[Source: California Air Resources Board]

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ARB announces second year of grants for hybrid trucks and buses

Award-winning program supported 650 cleaner delivery vans, beverage trucks, buses in populated neighborhoods in first year

SACRAMENTO - Today the Air Resources Board initiates the second year of grants totaling $19 million for hybrid vehicle technology that significantly reduces smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program will provide vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis to help California fleets purchase fuel-efficient hybrid medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. At least $2 million of these funds will be set aside for California public fleets to increase the number of hybrid vehicles.

"This program created an opportunity for California businesses to upgrade their trucks and proves that there is demand for technology that provides clean and fuel efficient vehicles," said ARB Executive Officer James Goldstene.

Interested public and private fleets can reserve a voucher for up to $40,000 through a participating dealership at the time the vehicle is ordered. The voucher is then redeemed at the time of purchase.

The program is part of the Air Quality Improvement Program, established in 2007 by AB 118 (Nunez) to provide funding for advanced technology vehicles and equipment. ARB's voucher program is implemented by CALSTART, a non-profit organization that works with business, fleets and government to develop and implement clean, efficient transportation solutions.

Last year, ARB provided almost $20 million to help California fleets purchase over 650 hybrid trucks and buses. Almost half the vouchers were for urban beverage-delivery vehicles and about 20 percent for package-delivery vehicles. Hybrid technology is similar to that used in cars and helps reduce smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions and also provide fuel economy benefits, particularly in vehicles that require heavy-stop-and-go operation or idling.

The program's first year received an award in September 2010 as the country's top emerging state energy efficiency program from American Council for a Fuel-Efficient Economy. The Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program was one of 18 top programs from 14 states.

ARB encourages air districts to contribute to the program to further accelerate the presence of hybrid trucks and buses in their respective districts. The South Coast Air Quality Management District, for example, has contributed $1.4 million to help fleets purchase hybrid trucks and buses in their own region.

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Anonymous

4 Years Ago

Heh -- what's interesting here is that it is impossible for transit agencies to take advantage of this in southern california for because CARB banned diesel bus purchases. The reason this is important is because there is hybrid powertrain that doesn't involve a diesel engine for buses. ISE Corporation just went bankrupt and was the only supplier of hybrid buses with gasoline engines.